Signal switch



SIGNAL SWITCH 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 24, 1925 Sept. 9, 1930. H. M.WHITAKEF: 1,775,300

SIGNAL SWITCH Filed July 24, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIoll 7d I II'IIIIIIIIIIIITIIII'IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIITIIIIIII auoemtoz61mm u Patented Sept. 9, 1930 UNITED STATES HUBER! M. WHITAKER, OFENFIELD, NORTH CAROLINA SIGNAL swrrcH Application filed July 24, 1925.

This invention aims to provide novel means whereby the operator of amotion picture machine may be advised when the roll is nearly run oilthe machine.

It is within the province of the disclosure to improve generally and toenhance the utility of devices of that type to which the inventionFigure 1 is a vertical section showing a de-- vice constructed inaccordance with the invention, parts being in elevation; Figure 2 is aView similar to Figure 1 but showing a slight modification.

In Figure 1, the numeral 1 marks the film magazine of a motion picturemachine, the shaft 2 being supported for rotation within the magazine 1and carrying the film roll 3. A fulcrum block 4 is located inside themagazine 1, and an angle bracket 5 is located outside the magazine, asecuring element 6 passing through the wall of the magazine, andconnecting both the block 4 and the bracket 5 to the magazine. A lever 7is mounted at 8 for swinging movement on the fulcrum block 4 and carriesa wheel 10 or other anti-friction device adapted to travel on the filmroll 3. A switch arm 11 is pivoted .at 9 to the lever 7 intermediate theends of the lever, the switch arm extending outwardly through an opening12 in the magazine 1. A foot piece 14 of insulatingmaterial is attachedby securing devices 15 to the outer end of the switch arm 11 and carriesa contact terminal 16 adapted to slide along an insulating block 18 andto engage with a terminal 17 Serial No. 45,910.

ceiving the clamping device 19, and permitting a shifting of the block18 and the contact terminal 17 with respectto the contact terminal 16;

Any suitable means may be provided for holding the contact terminal 16yieldably on the block 18 for engagement with the terminal 17. Ifdesired, a plunger v23 may be loosely mounted in the bracket 5, theplunger being provided at its inner end with a head 24 bearing on theswitch arm 11, a compression spring 25 surrounding a portion of theplunger, one end of the spring bearing on the head 24, and the other endof the spring bearing on the bracket 5. Inward movement of the plunger23 is limited by a wing nut 26 threaded on the plunger and bearingagainst a curved washer 27 mounted to rock on the bracket 5.

The electric mains are denoted by the nu- 7 meral 28 and are connectedwith the terminals 16 and 17 respectively, by conductors 29'and 30. Asignal 31 is interposed in one of the conductors, in the conductor 30,in the present instance. The signal 31 may be a lamp or other kind of asignal, either visible or audible.

As the film is run off the reel, the lever 7 swings downwardly, thewheel 10 traveling on the film roll 3, the arm 11 being carrieddownwardly, and the contact 16 coming into electrical engagement withthe contact 17. When the contacts 16 and 17 are in engage ment, thesignal circuit is closed, and the signal 31 is operated, therebyadmonishing the operator that the film roll is almost run off. As soonas the contact terminal 16 moves downwardly out of engagement with thecontact terminal 17, the signal circuit is opened and the signal 31 nolonger operates, the operator being then advised that the machine needsimmediate attention.

In Figure 2 of the drawings, parts hereinbefore described have beendesignated by numerals previously used, with the suflix a. In Figure 2,the magazine 1 is of rectangular form, Whereas the magazine 1 of Figure1 is of cylindrical outline. The modifications in Figure 2 are few andsimple. The

lever 7 is shown curved in Figure. 1. and

straight in Figure 2, the angle bracket 5 is changed slightly from theshowing of the angle bracket 5, and the same observation holds true withrespect to the angle bracket 20. The operation of the device depicted inFigure 2 does not differ from the operation of the form shown in Figure1.

WVhat is claimed is In a device of the class described, a magazinehaving an opening, a fulcrum block located inside the magazine, an anglebracket located outside the magazine, a securing element passing throughthe wall of the magav zine and engaging the fulcrum block and one leg ofthe angle bracket to bind the angle bracket and the fulcrum block on thewall of the'magazine, a lever within the magazine, one end of the leverbeing pivoted to the fulcrum block, and the other end of the leverhaving means for riding on a roll of film within the casing, switchmechanism comprising an arm pivoted to the intermediate portion of thelever and extended out of the magazine through the opening, a plungerslidably mounted in the other leg of the angle bracket and having a headwhich bears against the arm, and a compression spring surrounding theplunger, one end of the spring exerting a thrust against the head, andthe opposite end of the spring exerting a thrust against said other legof the angle bracket.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixedmy signature.

HUBERT M. \VHITAKER.

